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The VRReliever prototype, which we built for XR Health, was used in a study regarding the benefits of VR immersion during surgery. In the study, participants underwent hand surgery while using the prototype.
A picture taken during the study with the VRReliever prototype in action.
During this type of surgery, local anesthesia is administered. Though this is closely monitored, there’s a risk of oversedation which can result in potentially avoidable complications.
VR could prove a valuable tool because it can actively distract patients from the actual surgery. The VRReliever prototype is designed to distract patients in a medical context so it was the ideal program to use in this study.
The results appear to be promising. Patients that were immersed in VR during the study required less anesthetics than those who underwent the surgery in the traditional way.
You can read the full study here, lead by and conducted at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Curious about the VRReliever prototype, which we built for XRHealth? You can find more information about it here.